LENNOX LEWIS urged Anthony Joshua NOT to accept a step-aside and instead win back the heavyweight belts.
AJ is owed an immediate rematch with Oleksandr Usyk having been beaten over 12 rounds in September.
But Middle East money men are looking to front cash for an undisputed title decider between Usyk and Tyson Fury.
It would mean Joshua, and Fury’s WBC mandatory challenger Dillian Whyte, accepting a fee to sit on the sidelines.
Lewis is no stranger to stepping aside, having accepted £2.9million ($4m) in 1996 to allow Mike Tyson to beat Bruce Seldon.
But as the British legend points out, he did so having won his last four fights.
So Lewis, now 56, warned AJ against accepting the reported £15m step-aside deal to instead avenge his loss against Usyk.
He tweeted: “And before you bring up the Tyson step aside money… just remember, I wasn’t coming off of a loss.
“I would go get my belts back first. This also is not advice or a knock on AJ. It’s just what I would do in that situation.”
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Joshua’s promoter Eddie Hearn yesterday confirmed they had received a step-aside offer, but no deal was agreed.
Fury, 33, then today appeared to confirm his next fight would be against Whyte, 33, ending hopes of a unification with Usyk.
He said: “I can’t wait to punch Dillian Whyte’s face right in, mate. I am going to give him the best hiding he has ever had in his life.
“Dillian Whyte, train hard because you are going to get annihilated, bum.”
It would also suggest that Joshua, 32, rejected the chance to step aside and WILL instead rematch Usyk, 35.
